Where to begin...
Alright, so here's the deal guys - About a year ago I contacted a regional company that would be able to do things like this and spoke to them about the possibility of "enhancing" The Show. I might have brought it up a while ago, but it's time for an update.
So long story short, the guy was incredibly cool, interested, and sympathetic to the cause. He was a baseball fan and gentleman in his 50's. He said he would check more with his employees to see who/how many would be willing to do it off the clock for whatever fee we agree upon. The point is, he doesn't doubt we can modify MLB The Show in the ways I described.
For example, have you guys seen what they did to Madden 19 on PC? Or what can be done to NBA 2K, or really the Godfather of them all - The NCAA 14 Remake?
It may seem impossible now, or far away, but I'm telling you with every bit of confidence that in our lifetime, and sooner rather than later, we are going to have a version of The Show 20 on PC that is going to rock the world of any baseball gaming fan, mostly the retro crowd. Also, let it be known that PS4 emulators are available and have been for at least a year. Also, The Show 20 is available for immediate PC use.
Let me tell you what this all means and what I'm rambling about.
Past PC Remakes
You guys are smart, you should be able to pick up what I'm putting down and getting at here. In 2018, when Madden came to PC, people created mods that turned the fake ads into Budweiser and other taboo ads that added an incredible sense of realism and immersion to the setting (think Marlboro ads in 1987 Yankee Stadium) among other incredible feats. These cats were able to modify uniforms in Photoshop and make whatever they wanted, and make it look good, but the game changer was how they could modify stadiums. They could change the field of course, but they could also add and remove parts of the stadium if I remember correctly, or at least remove them. This will be relevant later. On top of ALL THIS, someone made something called the "Nectar Mod" that took Madden, yes Madden, and made it play incredible. It changed everything from ball trajectories to receive routes and tackles. Brand new game, how it should be.
For those of you who have seen the NCAA 14 Remake, you already know this. That group released an entire remake of a game with every mod I just listed and released it as a whole new package. It is so well done, so good, and so much fun that it made the best college football game of all time twice as good in every category.
Why this is important for MLB 20
For people who love retro baseball, this could change everything. I am not very educated or understanding of how this works, but it does. That's why I need your help to create this for everyone to honor the game of baseball as it should be, and as we know it. No one is taking this from us, so get ready.
Uniforms
The bottom line is this - We will be able to create either in game (DD creator) or from Photoshop whatever uniforms we want to have. It's possible we can have every throwback, or close to, for every team. Use your imagination, the sky here is the limit.
Stadiums
Knowing how The Show 21 and its stadium creator feature work, it helps me understand that their ballparks are modeled on individual parts/components/items etc... This is how the guys from the Madden Mod were likely able to remove things from stadiums. So for those of us who miss old Wrigley, we should be able to remove those scoreboards and extra rows to see the tops of the buildings again and increase the nostalgia factor. We will likely also be able to interchange scoreboards and remove some of the monstrosities from places like Cleveland where it is 7 miles wide! If this logic holds up, and the past can be replicated, then what is stopping talented people from remaking, or at least coming close to, older stadiums we want? I would be okay with them copying Tropicana Field and adding in some seats or bleachers copied elsewhere to remake a little Kingdome or Astrodome backdrop, wouldn't you? Metrodome maybe? Anyway, again, use your imagination.
Gameplay
MLB The Show 20 is the best playing baseball game of all time and always will. Period. Whatever little few bugs or quirks it has will be ironed out and God only knows what people can do with animations (like in the football games) and physics, should they even need to. There will also be an option to toggle the DH so Milwaukee and Houston can be properly used in Exhibition.
Graphics
Yeah, so go look at what they did to NCAA 14. Go play it if you can. MLB 20 already looks great, especially on PS5 in 4k. Now imagine what another coat of paint is going to do to that. What if people can make face scans or something of that sort? Even if not, who cares. Imagine how this will pop.
Equipment
This is where it really can get good. Imagine Barry Bonds having his earring. What about Frank Thomas wearing his Reebok cleats with the touch of red in them? Either we will be able to port older equipment over (like the good Nikes from 2018 and the original, good Franklin Classics from 2018 as well as the Louisville Slugger from 18) or just create our own in Photoshop. Batting gloves, cleats, turtlenecks with the Nike logo, etc... True authenticity can be achieved with this addition.
Rosters
Don't quote me on this guys, but I am willing to be the existing save files to MLB 20 could easily be transferred over to PC, keeping intact all of the work people have poured into this game and will continue to. I personally would recreate all 10 of mine again for this anyway, but I'm thinking we shouldn't have to.
Timeline
Right now I just want your guy's opinions. I have zero idea how to do any of this myself, but I'm motivated and passionate about this so I'm willing to put some time and other resources in. Does anyone know how to do any of this how we could do any of this, or who to ask before getting companies involved for money? The other projects were either done individually or as a team, but that's what I would like to get fleshed out. This is a community project for the benefit of all, I just want to get the ball rolling and share my vision for it. Please, give me feedback and add whatever you can if this interests you. It will be the last good thing to happen to baseball until Manfred goes to Guantanamo.
EDIT: There really is no timeline for this by the way, it may even take two years or so for technology or the quality of emulators to pick up for this to be possible. I don't know. But we should start making a plan anyway guys, I want this and I know it can be done.
Alright, so here's the deal guys - About a year ago I contacted a regional company that would be able to do things like this and spoke to them about the possibility of "enhancing" The Show. I might have brought it up a while ago, but it's time for an update.
So long story short, the guy was incredibly cool, interested, and sympathetic to the cause. He was a baseball fan and gentleman in his 50's. He said he would check more with his employees to see who/how many would be willing to do it off the clock for whatever fee we agree upon. The point is, he doesn't doubt we can modify MLB The Show in the ways I described.
For example, have you guys seen what they did to Madden 19 on PC? Or what can be done to NBA 2K, or really the Godfather of them all - The NCAA 14 Remake?
It may seem impossible now, or far away, but I'm telling you with every bit of confidence that in our lifetime, and sooner rather than later, we are going to have a version of The Show 20 on PC that is going to rock the world of any baseball gaming fan, mostly the retro crowd. Also, let it be known that PS4 emulators are available and have been for at least a year. Also, The Show 20 is available for immediate PC use.
Let me tell you what this all means and what I'm rambling about.
Past PC Remakes
You guys are smart, you should be able to pick up what I'm putting down and getting at here. In 2018, when Madden came to PC, people created mods that turned the fake ads into Budweiser and other taboo ads that added an incredible sense of realism and immersion to the setting (think Marlboro ads in 1987 Yankee Stadium) among other incredible feats. These cats were able to modify uniforms in Photoshop and make whatever they wanted, and make it look good, but the game changer was how they could modify stadiums. They could change the field of course, but they could also add and remove parts of the stadium if I remember correctly, or at least remove them. This will be relevant later. On top of ALL THIS, someone made something called the "Nectar Mod" that took Madden, yes Madden, and made it play incredible. It changed everything from ball trajectories to receive routes and tackles. Brand new game, how it should be.
For those of you who have seen the NCAA 14 Remake, you already know this. That group released an entire remake of a game with every mod I just listed and released it as a whole new package. It is so well done, so good, and so much fun that it made the best college football game of all time twice as good in every category.
Why this is important for MLB 20
For people who love retro baseball, this could change everything. I am not very educated or understanding of how this works, but it does. That's why I need your help to create this for everyone to honor the game of baseball as it should be, and as we know it. No one is taking this from us, so get ready.
Uniforms
The bottom line is this - We will be able to create either in game (DD creator) or from Photoshop whatever uniforms we want to have. It's possible we can have every throwback, or close to, for every team. Use your imagination, the sky here is the limit.
Stadiums
Knowing how The Show 21 and its stadium creator feature work, it helps me understand that their ballparks are modeled on individual parts/components/items etc... This is how the guys from the Madden Mod were likely able to remove things from stadiums. So for those of us who miss old Wrigley, we should be able to remove those scoreboards and extra rows to see the tops of the buildings again and increase the nostalgia factor. We will likely also be able to interchange scoreboards and remove some of the monstrosities from places like Cleveland where it is 7 miles wide! If this logic holds up, and the past can be replicated, then what is stopping talented people from remaking, or at least coming close to, older stadiums we want? I would be okay with them copying Tropicana Field and adding in some seats or bleachers copied elsewhere to remake a little Kingdome or Astrodome backdrop, wouldn't you? Metrodome maybe? Anyway, again, use your imagination.
Gameplay
MLB The Show 20 is the best playing baseball game of all time and always will. Period. Whatever little few bugs or quirks it has will be ironed out and God only knows what people can do with animations (like in the football games) and physics, should they even need to. There will also be an option to toggle the DH so Milwaukee and Houston can be properly used in Exhibition.
Graphics
Yeah, so go look at what they did to NCAA 14. Go play it if you can. MLB 20 already looks great, especially on PS5 in 4k. Now imagine what another coat of paint is going to do to that. What if people can make face scans or something of that sort? Even if not, who cares. Imagine how this will pop.
Equipment
This is where it really can get good. Imagine Barry Bonds having his earring. What about Frank Thomas wearing his Reebok cleats with the touch of red in them? Either we will be able to port older equipment over (like the good Nikes from 2018 and the original, good Franklin Classics from 2018 as well as the Louisville Slugger from 18) or just create our own in Photoshop. Batting gloves, cleats, turtlenecks with the Nike logo, etc... True authenticity can be achieved with this addition.
Rosters
Don't quote me on this guys, but I am willing to be the existing save files to MLB 20 could easily be transferred over to PC, keeping intact all of the work people have poured into this game and will continue to. I personally would recreate all 10 of mine again for this anyway, but I'm thinking we shouldn't have to.
Timeline
Right now I just want your guy's opinions. I have zero idea how to do any of this myself, but I'm motivated and passionate about this so I'm willing to put some time and other resources in. Does anyone know how to do any of this how we could do any of this, or who to ask before getting companies involved for money? The other projects were either done individually or as a team, but that's what I would like to get fleshed out. This is a community project for the benefit of all, I just want to get the ball rolling and share my vision for it. Please, give me feedback and add whatever you can if this interests you. It will be the last good thing to happen to baseball until Manfred goes to Guantanamo.
EDIT: There really is no timeline for this by the way, it may even take two years or so for technology or the quality of emulators to pick up for this to be possible. I don't know. But we should start making a plan anyway guys, I want this and I know it can be done.
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